A Lifestyle Change App for Breast Cancer Survivors

Project #2: Addressing Hazardous Drinking and Chronic Pain with Web-based Intervention and Coaching in Primary Care. Tibor Palfai (Project Leader), Co-I’s (Otis, Morone, Lasser, Lapets, Borrelli & Quintiliani)

Tremendous advances in detection and treatment of breast cancer have led to an increasingly large cohort of survivors. Modification of health behaviors quality of life prevents future cancer recurrence and increases long-term health among cancer survivors. National guidelines recommend that cancer survivors should achieve a healthy weight, obtain physical activity, and eat a healthful diet. A large body of research demonstrates the deleterious effects of obesity on cancer-related morality and the positive effects of promoting lifestyle changes among cancer survivors. For example, a meta-analysis reported a 34% reduction in breast cancer deaths among patients reporting physical activity post-diagnosis. There is also emerging scientific research to better understand the potential mechanisms of the anti-neoplastic effects of exercise.

However, translating these recommendations into population-wide, inexpensive, sustainable programs for cancer survivors has, to date, proven largely unrealized. These programs are particularly needed in populations experiencing cancer-related health disparities (i.e., low socio-economic status and/or racial and ethnic minority groups). In this context, there is great promise of mHealth tools that are mobile, simple, and embedded into daily life routines. The long-term goal of this research project is to develop, test, and disseminate a mobile app to improve cancer outcomes by changing lifestyle behaviors among urban populations.

To meet our goal, we aim to develop a mHealth weight management system for cancer survivors that will capture patient’s behavioral data using intuitive self-tracking and sensors for support in meeting their goals. In this pilot, we will examine what features of a mobile app are most preferred by breast cancer survivors. This system will form the basis to seek ancillary funding support to test the efficacy of our mHealth System.